Barbrook Reservoir

Barbrook reservoir is situated on the high moorland (Big Moor) between Froggatt Edge and Owler Bar. It boasted a depth of 8.2m and could provide Northern Chesterfield with 500,000 gallons of clean fresh water, enought to supply around 5000 homes.

Built in 1910 by the Severn Trent Water Authority on peat moorland the reservoir had a clay core and weirs for excess water run off, the water in its raw state was extremely acidic and could not support plant or fish life, it was for this reason that the water was treated with Chlorine, lime and sulphure dioxide.

Picture taken from the weir of barbrook reservoir

The more recent history of why it became disused is very sketchy other than it was completed in 2003,

the only documenary evidence i could find was in a document released by the Severn Trent Water Authority called

"A Biodiversity Action Plan, The First Five Years"

Barbrook Reservoir, Eastern Peak District Moors (19.05ha) - disused for water supply for many years, for reservoir safety legislation compliance, it became necessary to drain and formally 'discontinue' the structure to ensure that it could no longer retain significant volumes of water. 

English Nature concented to the decommissioning process and agreed on the level of environmental mitigation required, in particular the establishment of new habitats that reflected and complemented those on the surrounding moors.

These included wet and dry heath, wetland and open water and the establishment of the origional streams. The work was completed in August 2003.

Penny Anderson Associates were our key consultants and will be monitoring and managing the vegetation to ensure the establishment of the habitats.

The slot that was carved out of the wall to release the water